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EPL PHOTOS: Liverpool back on top; Chelsea edge Cardiff

Last updated on: April 01, 2019 10:01 IST

Images from the EPL matches played on Sunday

Livepool FC players celebrate after scoring the 2nd goal against Tottenham Hotspur

IMAGE: Livepool FC players celebrate after scoring the 2nd goal against Tottenham Hotspur. Photograph: EPL/Twitter

Liverpool secured a last-gasp 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur thanks to an own goal by visiting defender Toby Alderweireld to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

Liverpool are on 79 points with ManchesterCity, who won at Fulham on Saturday, on 77 points but with a game in hand.

 

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris parried out a back post header from Mohamed Salah but the ball struck the unfortunate Belgian central defender and rolled over the line in the 90th minute.

It was a stroke of luck for Liverpool and one which sent Anfield wild with relief as a draw would have handed the advantage in the title race straight to Pep Guardiola's side.

Questions will be asked of Lloris's failure to smother the ball or push it away from danger but it was a cruel end to a strong second half display from Tottenham who are now level on 61 points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

"There are 500,000 different ways to win a football game – and today it was rather ugly, but no problem," said Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp.

"We take that. Without a bit of luck you cannot be in the position we are in, it’s not possible," he said.

Roberto Firmino opened the scoring in the 16th minute getting between the Spurs central defenders to meet a perfectly shaped cross from left-back Andy Robertson with a firm header.

Klopp's side looked to quickly add a second but while they roared forward and had Tottenham's defence shaking, their shots on goal were limited.

Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld scores an own goal and Liverpool's second

IMAGE: Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld scores an own goal and Liverpool's second. Photograph: Andrew Yates/Reuters

Tottenham recovered and were well on top after the break. It was no surprise when they drew level -- Harry Kane swinging a wonderful cross-field pass to Kieran Trippier whose low ball was flicked on by Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura drove home the loose ball.

Spurs could have made it even worse for Liverpool five minutes from the end but Moussa Sissoko, looking far from composed, blasted over at the end of a dangerous counter-attack.

Then came the late winner -- a half-cleared corner was collected by Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold launched a deep shot to the far post. Salah's header was pushed out by the French keeper against Alderweireld's shins and into the net.

"It's a massive result for us," said Roberton.

"The first half an hour we blew them away without getting a second goal. We got a wee bit sloppy and, to be fair, Spurs have beaten us comfortably in the second half.

"But we fought right to the end and it's all about three points," added the Scotsman.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino was deflated by the loss but said he was pleased with his team's display.

 “We reacted well, dominated in the second half and played much better, created chances and should have won the game,” he said.

 “We’re disappointed, very disappointed, but we keep going. Sometimes you need to accept that football is cruel, but never give up because we are in a good position and this performance makes me feel very optimistic," he said.

Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek celebrates after he scores his side's second goal against Cardiff City at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff 

IMAGE: Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek celebrates after he scores his side's second goal against Cardiff City at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Late goals from Cesar Azpilicueta and Ruben Loftus-Cheek helped Chelsea complete a thrilling comeback to beat Cardiff City 2-1 away in the Premier League on Sunday.

With Chelsea heading for an embarrassing defeat against third-bottom Cardiff, their captain Azpilicueta dragged them back into the match with a headed goal that appeared to be offside.

The visitors then completed the fightback when substitute Loftus-Cheek stormed in at the back post to plant a header in the bottom corner.

Maurizo Sarri's Chelsea stayed sixth in the table with 60 points, level with fifth-placed Arsenal, who have played a game fewer, and a point behind Manchester United in fourth.

Cardiff's plight looks increasingly bleak as the are now five points adrift of the safety zone with seven games remaining.

Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain battles for possession with Cardiff City's Bruno Ecuele Manga

IMAGE: Chelsea's Gonzalo Higuain battles for possession with Cardiff City's Bruno Ecuele Manga. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Chelsea, who started without talisman Eden Hazard and midfielder N'Golo Kante, struggled to create chances and failed to hit a single shot on target in the first half.

Aron Gunnarsson's long-throws for striker Oumar Niasse troubled the Chelsea defence for the majority of the match and it was key to Cardiff's breakthrough just after the interval.

The visitors failed to clear the delivery launched into the box, leaving midfielder Harry Arter to whip the ball back in for Victor Camarasa, who fired a first-time finish into the top corner.

The hosts had two penalty appeals turned down, with defender Sean Morrison tugged down by Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger in two separate incidents.

Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has words with Chelsea's David Luiz after the match 

IMAGE: Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has words with Chelsea's David Luiz after the match. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

"We worked three weeks for this but to get let down by decisions... no major decisions went for us," Cardiff manager Neil Warnock said.

"It's the best league in the world but the worst officials. They don't understand what is at stake. They shouldn't make mistakes at this level.

"My players feel like they have been kicked in the teeth. We've been kicked so many times. I don't deserve officials like that today. There is no excuse for that, it's criminal."

Cardiff next face a trip to second-placed Manchester City on Wednesday, while Chelsea host Brighton and Hove Albion.

Source: REUTERS
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